Northern California wildfire leaves town in ruins, thousands flee

"Billions of dollars are given each year, with so many lives lost, all because of gross mismanagement of the forests".

A Cal Fire spokesman said around 2,000 buildings were believed to have been razed in Paradise. Three more were found outside a residence, and one inside a house. But conditions there could change rapidly as the fire moves toward the coast.

The first fire has claimed at least nine lives.

In the San Francisco Bay area, some 180 miles away from Paradise, locals have been encouraged to stay indoors due to worsening air quality caused by smoke from the fire.

The blaze, which broke out on Thursday, had more than tripled in size to 2838ha and was only 5% contained. "We're working very hard to get people out".

The fire has burned about 10,000 acres, according to officials, and at least 75,000 residents in both counties have been evacuated.

Sherri Pritchard said she only had time to grab a few pictures before fleeing with her family and dogs, even leaving clothes behind.

In Malibu, journalist Julie Ellerton said she was calmly packing Friday morning after staying up all night. "It was chaos. I couldn't believe what people were doing".

These numbers make it one of the most destructive blazes in state history, according to California Department of Forestry and Fire protection data.

"We're talking devastated", McLean said.

The National Weather Service issued red-flag warnings for fire dangers in many areas of the state, saying low humidity and strong winds were expected to continue through the evening.

Acting California Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in the area and requested a federal emergency declaration, saying that high winds and dry brush presented ongoing danger. That's equal to about 60 football fields per minute.

"Please, please, please if you are asked to voluntarily leave the area, please do", Ventura County fire Capt. Scott Dettore told CNN affiliate KTLA on Friday morning. The wildfire then finally ran into its only match so far: the Pacific Ocean, the Washington Post reported.

The massive blaze that hit Paradise spread north Friday, prompting officials to order the evacuation of Stirling City and Inskip, two communities north of Paradise along the Sierra Nevada foothills. The Los Angeles County Fire Department tweeted, "imminent threat!", as the fire raged through the Santa Monica Mountains toward the ocean.

The fire broke out on Thursday north west of Los Angeles and roared south, jumping the U.S. 101 freeway early on Friday and sweeping into the Santa Monica Mountains. I can't think anything matters more - packing "items" seems unusual.

Kardashian, and her sister Kourtney, said they had left their homes in nearby Calabasas late on Thursday. "I mean, it was just terrifying", she said. (Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) Flames from a wildfire burn a portion of Griffith Park in Los Angeles, Nov. 9, 2018.

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